Spring lock



Oct. 20, 1953 M. PIKER 2,656,206

SPRING LOCK Filed June 21, 1948 I'\ NM 1 INVENTOR. .ZZI'RBEM'MPZZQ'R Patented Oct. 20, 1953 sramc LOCK Herbert M. Piker, Hamilton, Ohio, assignor to The Hamilton Metal Products Company, Hamilton, Ohio, a eorporationof Ohio Application June 21, 1948, Serial No. 34,219

1 This invention relates to improvements in a spring lock for use with boxes or the like that have covers hinged thereto for locking the cover in closed position.

Spring locks are not new, per se, but in the past have required a considerable number of parts in order to provide an operative structure or else utilized a portion of the box or its cover as a part of the lock, such for example, supplying the box or the cover with an aperture to receive the keeper of the latch. This construction resulted in wear on the box part which soon became unsightly or the lock as a whole was expensive to produce thereby rendering its use uneconomical in instances where it was desired to produce an inexpensive box.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide a spring lock that is self-contained and adapted to be attached to a box and its cover without utilizing either the box or the cover as a part of the locking mechanism.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a spring lock which is economical to produce yet sturdy of construction and simple to operate.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a spring lock that is foolproof in operation, pleasing and artistic in appearance, and of a minimum number of parts consistent with the operation thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention should be readily apparent by reference to the following specification considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof and it is to be understood that any modifications may be made in the exact structural details there shown and described, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from or exceeding the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

' Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a box having mounted thereon the improved spring lock of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through the look as seen from line 22 on said Fig. 1.

. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary eievational view of a part of the box and its cover showing the same having secured thereto the spring lock 'of the present invention as seen from line 3--3 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the spring lock of the present invention as seen from line 4-4 on Fig. 2.

3 Claims. (cl. 292-86) Fig. 5 is a transverse view through the spring lock taken on a plane above that of Fig. 4 on line 5-5 on Fig. 2. I Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the spring lock of the present invention showing the parts thereof in position before the final locking thereof to one another.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the spring catch of the improved spring lock of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the lock showing a modification in the construction thereof.

Throughout the several views of the drawing similar reference characters are employed to denote the same or similar parts. As illustrated in Fig. l the improved spring lock of the present invention, indicated in general by the reference numeral I0, is attached to a box or container comprising a box proper I and a cover l2. The box l| includes a front l3 and a back to which is hingedly connected the cover l2. The cover |2 has a top H from the edge of which depends a flange l5 adapted to embrace an upstanding lip portion Hi from the box front l3 and box back and sides. At the upper end of the box front H as well as at the upper ends of its back and sides there is provided a bead H which constitutes an abutment for the lower edge of the box cover flange l5.

In order to transport the box the cover top H has secured thereto a suitable handle l8 which when not in use is adapted to lie on the upper surface of the cover top H and preferably adapted to be disposed within a recess |9 formed in the said cover top I4.

I The spring lock It] comprises a base plate 20 to which is secured a housing 2|. The housing 2| has a, front 22 from the edges of which project a housing top 23, a housing bottom 24 and housing sides 25 and 26 with the ends of said top. bottom and sides free. The housing 2| is of less width than the base pltae 20 and has projecting from the sides 25 and 26, respectively, cars 21 and 28 which are, respectively, adapted to pass through elongated apertures 29 in the base plate 20, and whereby the said housing 2| is secured to the base plate 20 by having said ears bent to engage the back surface of the base plate 20 and effect a clamping of the housing 2| in position between the said ears 2! and 28- and the free edges of the housing top, bottom and sides.

Disposed within the housing 2| is a spring latch, indicated in general by the reference numeral 30, which comprises a foot member 3|,

at the outer end of the latch finger portion 34..

The spring latch foot 3| is provided with aper-' tures 37 adapted to be aligned with similar apertures in the lower end of the base plate,20 and through which aligned apertures extend rivets 38 whereby the spring latch 3n'is secured'tdthe' base plate 20. It should be noted that the spring latch 36 is adapted to be positionedsubstantiallyv centrally, laterally, of the housing 2| and basev When the spring latch 38 is in opera-" plate 25. tive position relative to the housing 2! and the baseplate 25" the" latch finger 34* is positioned beneath the lock housing top 23 in reasonably close proximity thereto and the said lock housing top z's isprovided with an aperture 39 in alignment' with the springfinger aperture 35; It is by way-f: thelock housing top aperture SQthat locking or latching engagement is obtained'with the spring finger 3 andits latching bar 35.

In orderto:actuate thesspring latch 30, particularly to unlock the same, the said spring latch body portion- 32 has secured thereto and projectingrtherefrom' a thumb or finger piece diiwhich is illustrated as substantially: button shape in appearance. The thumb or finger piece 43 is secured} tothe-latch body portion32 by any suitable means, such for: example as by a rivet M. The-thumb orfinger piece lEliis adapted to project. forwardly of: the 1 look: housing front 22 and f'orswhich' purpose the saidilock-housing front 22 iszprovidedrwith an aperture 42'. slightly larger in diameter than the thumb or'finger piece 40 so as to offer-nointerterencewith said thumb or finger pieceduring its operation. As shown in Fig. '2 the upper inner endof the latchfinger stand its latching bar 3-6. are normally spaced forwardly offthe'base plate 2!) sothat the said spring latch 30 may be rearwardlyflexed. Thexlbcl: base plate 20? with. its housing 21 is adapted to be securedto; theboxfront 3 for which purpose the base plate'li has projecting respectively; from: its: vertical sides bendable fastening ears-43 andl44 each adapted; to pass through an aperture45in1the said box front i3; 'ihe'securing'cf the baseplate-Zfl to the box front 43"is' obviousysince'up-setting or bending of the ears 43 and 44 against the inner surfaceof the box? front 83 will efiectively clamp the said box front between-the baseplate 25 and said ears 43- and 4 4. The spring lock base plate and its housing 21 are locatedon the box front to have the: upperedges thereof substantially aligned with thebead I! mat the bottom edge of the cover depending flange'lfi. Secured to the lidor cover flange l5. is the springslockgkeeper which conveniently is made as av stamping to provide: an. upstanding oroutwardly projecting portion or body member: 46 that has; an; efiective depth. substantially equal to the depth, of the housing-21: and its base plate 25.: The'outwardly projecting portion. 46. is. pro. vided: with rearwardly extending sides 41' each of which has at its baserlaterallyprojecting wings 45g and 49 .Whibhf' simulate the: extension-of the base nlate ZQ-beyondthe-housingii. The keeper or catch. is adaptedtobesecured to the: lid" or cover flange l5 just above the base plate 20 and housing 2| and for this purpose has projecting from the vertical edges of the wings 48 and 49 bendable cars 50 and in addition has projecting from its upper edge a bendable ear El and each of which ears 5!! and 5| is adapted to pass throughan aperture 52 formedin the lid or cover flange I5.to be upset or bent in effecting the securement of the keeper or catch to the cover.

.Projecting from the lower edge of the keeper of catch body portion 46 is the keeper proper or 'lug.53 that has the sides thereof bent normal theretoas at, 54 and.. 55 thereby giving the lug 53 asub'stantially U -shape in cross section. Each of" the lug sides..,54 and 55 is provided with a V-shaped cut therein to provide a tooth 56 at a point intermediate the vertical height of the lug 53. Theteeth 56 are adapted to underlie the spring latch latching bar 36. Each of the lu sides 54 and 55 below its tooth 56 is provided with an inclined-portion 5! which acts 'as a cam in flexing thespring latch' 3i? during-the time of projecting the teeth 56-beneath thesaid latching bar 33.

From'the foregoing-description and the drawing, particularly Fig. 2, it is believed that the operation ofthe spring lock ofithe present invention is well understood: Briefly, however, with the pring lock parts in; the position of Fig. 6 continued downward movement' ofthe cover l2 will cause the keeper or catch lug 53- to pass through the lock housing top aperture 39'into the springlatch finger aperture 35; The cam faces 51 on the keeper or catch-lug sides 54 and 55 will engage the latch bar 36 andrearwardly, as seen in Fig. 2, flex the spring latch 3-5 until the teeth 01" seats 5'6on said'keepe-r or catch lug sides fillfandi-fi 'are beneath th'e spring latching bar 36 whereupon the said spring latch 38' will be released to disposethe latching bar 36 above the said teeth or seats 56 andthereby prevent raising of the cover or lid E2 of the box. When it is desired-to open the cover cr lid l2 the operator need merelyengagethethumbor finger piece 40 and'rearwardly press the same 'to thereby again free the spring latch 39 by removing the latching bar 3'6'from the seats or teeth 56 and permit the withdrawal of the keeper or catch lug 53 from the opening 39:

The construction set-forth in the foregoing description utilized a base plate 2%] which securedthehousing- 2| to the box and at the same time provided a: mounting plate for the spring latch 39. In the-modification illustrated'in Fig. 8 the base plate- 23 has been eliminated and the bottomof the housing 21 is provided with an extension whichis upwardly disposed to be par: allel' with the housing front 22-and which portion is indicated in Fig. B'by the reference numeral 58. This upward extension needbe no higher than the foot portiorrtl .of the spring latch 56 and isprovided. with apertures to be aligned with theyapertures 31in the spring latch foot-portion 31' and through these alignedaperturespass the rivets 38101. thereby securing the said springlatch .36 directly tothelock-housing 2!. In order to secure the lock housing 2i to the. box, front l3theears 2? and 28 thereof are passed, directly through apertures in. the nous-'- ingfront-l3.

From the foregoingit'is-beli-eved' obvious that there has been provided an improved spring lock for boxes. andr-the like which answers the objects initially set forth. .1 a

What is claimed is:

1. In a spring lock including a catch having a latching shoulder intermediate its ends and an actuating cam terminating at the shoulder, the combination of a lock housing comprising an outwardly spaced front and an apertured top. a spring latch within said housing having the body portion thereof adjacent the housing front and mounted at its lower end for flexing movement inwardly of said housing front, the spring latch having its upper end portion upwardly and inwardly inclined with an aperture in said inwardly inclined portion forming a latching bar at the upper end of the latch to be below the housing top and extend laterally of the top opening, said latch aperture being aligned with the housing top aperture through which aligned apertures the catch passes to have the actuating cam thereof engage the latching bar for inwardly flexing the spring latch until its latching bar is above and on the catch shoulder, and a finger piece carried by the spring latch intermediate its ends projecting through the latch housing front for manual engagement for inwardly flexing the spring latch to disengage its latching bar from the catch shoulder.

2. In a spring lock including a catch having a latching shoulder intermediate its ends and an actuating cam terminating at the shoulder, the

combination of a lock housing having a front and rearwardly projecting top, bottom and sides, a base plate secured to the free ends of the lock housing top, bottom and sides, said lock housing top having an aperture therethrough, a spring latch within the lock housing having a body portion adjacent the inner surface of the lock housing front and having its lower end secured to the base plate in such manner that the spring latch body portion may be flexed toward the base plate,

said spring latch having its upper end portion upwardly and inwardly inclined and provided with an aperture to provide in said upwardly and inwardly inclined portion a latching bar at the upper end of the spring latch to be below the housing top and extend laterally of the top opening, said latch aperture and lock housing top aperture being aligned to permit the passage therethrough of the catch and engagement of the latch latching bar by the catch actuating cam for inwardly flexing the latch until said latching bar is above and seated on the catch shoulder, and means operable exteriorly of the lock housing for inwardly flexing the latch for releasing the latching bar from the catch shoulder.

3. In a spring lock including a catch having a latching shoulder intermediate its ends and an actuating cam terminating at the shoulder, the combination of a lock housing having a front and rearwardly projecting top, bottom and sides, a base plate secured to the free ends of the lock housing top, bottom and sides, said lock housing top having an aperture therethrough, a spring latch within the lock housing having a body portion adjacent the inner surface of the lock housing and having its lower end secured to the base plate in such manner that the spring latch body portion may be flexed toward the base plate, said spring latch having its upper end portion upwardly and inwardly inclined and provided in said upwardly and inwardly inclined portion with an aperture to provide a latching bar at the upper end of the spring latch to be below the housing top and extend laterally of the top opening, said latch aperture and lock housing top aperture being aligned to permit the passage therethrough of the catch and engagement of the latch latching bar by the catch actuating cam for inwardly flexing the latch until said latching bar is above and seated on the catch shoulder, and means operable from the exterior of the lock housing for inwardly flexing the latch for releasing the latching bar from the catch shoulder, comprising a finger piece carried by the spring latch intermediate the ends of its body portion and projecting through an aperture in the lock housing.

HERBERT M. PIKER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 195,117 Frankel Sept. 11, 1877 900,121 Pleins Oct. 6, 1908 1,331,781 Pendziawater Feb. 24, 1920 1,579,360 Hartwig Apr. 6, 1926 1,938,342 Levine Dec. 5, 1933 2,137,531 Jones Nov. 22, 1938 2,426,754 Thiele Sept. 2, 1947 

